Wrapper



June 9, 1942. H. G. 'l-ASKER WRAPPER Filed July 15, 1959 Patented June 9, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEA WRAPPER Homer G. Tasker, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 15, 1939, Serial No. 284,775

Claims.

. This invention relates to package wrappers and particularly ,to wrappers for small edible articles such as sugar, yeast, bouillon cubes and the like.

Wrappers of the general type of this invention are well known, one such wrapper for sugar units or `lump being disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,882,124, of October 11, 1932. The paper wrapping or covering as disclosed in this patent has for its object the facilitation of the removal of the wrapper while avoiding contact by the fingers with the enclosed edible article. These wrappers are generally torn along perforated lines to form a gap between the end portions of the wrapper;

" then the end portions are separately removed for depositing the sugar, if suchis the article, into a liquid.

` It has been found by experience, however, that this type of package and others of the prior art do not function as intended for several reasons. First, the type of perforations, if any, do not properly guide the predetermined line of separation between the portions of the wrapper, and the direction of 'tearing is, therefore, indeterminable. Second, it is found that evenif the wrapper does tear properly, it is diiiicult to remove the end portions of the wrapper because of the friction produced between the paper and the sugar by the hands, thus the user never knows which end is coming off first. Third, if one end is properly removed, then it is still difcult to release or deposit the article without contacting it with the hands because of the friction between the paper and the article, particularly if the article is sugar. V

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to facilitate the removal of a Wrapper enclosing an article. n

Another object of the invention is to insure the separation of different portions of a wrapper along predetermined lines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrapper, one portion of which is entirely removable in one operation, while the removal of the remaining portion is readily controllable.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved perforations for a removable wrapper.

Although the novel features which arebelieved to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims appending herewith, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will be better understood by referring to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which f per covering an article such as a lump of sugar;

Fig. .3 is an elevational front view of the wrapper partially removed;

Fig. 4 is a view of a wrapped article with one section of the wrapper removed;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of one form of perforations;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a second form of perforations; and

Fig..7 is a detailed view of a third form of perforations.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, in Which like numerals represent identical elements, a `blank 5 of general rectangular shape has an overlap portion 5, a, side portion l, a back or face portion 8, a side portion 9, and a front or face portion I0. Two tabs or grip portions are provided integral with the front portion I0, such as side tab l2 and end tab i3. vThe end overlap portions are shown above and below the dotted lines 25 and 26, the dotted lines representing the folds occurring when the blank is wrapped around an article. How these folds are made is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 by the portions l5, IS, I1 and I8 of one end of the wrapper.

Running parallel to the upper edge of the blank 5 is a row of perforations which extends from a point 2| to a point 22 entirely across the entire blank. Perforations of a similar nature extend along the lower portion of the blank from a point 23 to a point 2d. It will be noted that the perorations 23--25 are not parallel with the perforations 2I-22, but slope downwardly to the end corner fold represented by the dotted line 26. These perforations are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, as they appear on the wrapped package. This type of perforation is also shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 5 and constitutes overlapping slits 28 out through the paper. These perforations may also take the form of the overlapping parallel slits 29 shown in Fig. 6, or the interlocking slits 30 shown in Fig. 7.

The important feature of the invention is found in the manner of removal of the wrapper from the sugar lump or other like particle, it being understood that any perforation embodying the overlap principle as shown in Figs. 5,v 6 and '7 may be used. To illustrate the removal of the wrapper, the package of Fig. 2 is grasped in the left hand as shown in Fig. 4. The right hand then grasps the tab and, moving toward the, right, (Fig. 2) separates the sections along left hand during the operation to complete the separation along perforations 2I22. When the point 24 of perforations 23%-24 is reached, the

lower end portion consisting oi' elements I5 to I8, inclusive, will then be loose and the entoire lower portion may be removed when further separation is made along perforations 2 I-22. Thus, the entire lower section is removed as a single unit, which is done without any friction or other clinging tendency.

The left hand now retains the sugarlump in the manner shown in Fig. 4, the tab I3 being between the thumb 3l and irst or index finger 32, while the second nger 33 is on the back portion of the lump to maintain a rm grip. Now, to release the sugar lump from the remaining end portion, it is only necessary to release the second finger 33 so that the lump is held solely by the tab I3, the lump naturally falling from the end section. With Wrappers not provided With the tab I3, the sugar must be released by releasing the pressure of the lingers against the paper, and it frequently happens that the paper and sugar both go into the liquid. If this does not happen, it is necessary to twist the cap or end sections until the sugar is removed, which generally includes contact of the sugar by the lingers. With the present construction, release of the sugar lump from the paper is assured by simply releasing the grasp on the sugar while retaining a grip on the tab I3. It is also to be understood that the wrapper may be as easily removed by grasping the upper section and tab I3 by the right hand and removing the lower section with the left hand.

This invention, therefore, provides not only an improved series of perforations which have other applications in addition to their present use, but also an article Wrapper which is particularly suitable for sugar lumps, bouillon cubes and the like which are soldin"wrappers`adapted to be removed when the article is to be consumed. The spiral'arrangement of perforations 23-24 perrmit the wrapper to be removed with the least amount of manipulation of the package and hands, while control of the sugar lump and its removal from the remaining portion of the wrapper is under control at all times without danger of contact with the hands.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A package wrapper comprising a pair oi tabs integral to one side of said wrapper` one of said tabs extending beyond one side of said package, and the other of said tabs extending beyond one end of said package, said wrapper having a substantially parallel ring of perforations adja- 2. A package wrapper blank comprising a substantially rectangular blank having a pair of parallel fold lines adjacent two parallel edges of said blank, a line ci overlapping slits adjacent and substantially parallel to one fold line, another line of overlapping slits spaced from said first-mentioned line `of weakening and extending partially across and adjacent the other fold line, the slits'in one line being divergent with respect to the slits in the other line in the direction of tearing, and :a tab in one corner oi said blank adjacent the first-mentioned line of slits. 3. A package wrapper blank comprising a'substantially rectangular blank having a pair of parallel fold lines adjacent two parallel edges of said blank, a line oi.' weakening adjacent and substantially parallel tozone fold line and another line of Aweakening spaced from said rstmentioned line of weakening and extending par# tially across and adjacent the other fold line, said mst-mentioned line of weakening extending entirely across said blank, and said second-mentioned line lof weakening extending partially across said blank and terminating adjacent said other fold line, said blank having a :linger tab at one corner of said blank adjacent the ilrstmentioned line of weakening.

4. A package wrapper blank comprising a substantially rectangular blank having a pair of parallel fold lines adjacent two parallel edges of said blank, a line oi' weakening adjacent and substantially parallel to one fold line and another line of weakening spaced from said first-mentioned line of weakening and extending partially across and adjacent the other fold line, said mst-mentioned line of weakening extending entirely across said blank, and said second-mentioned line of weakening extending partially across said blank and terminating adjacent said other fold line, said blank having a tab formed in one corner thereof, the base of which is in line with said rst-mentioned fold line.

5. A package .wrapper blank comprising a substantially rectangular blank having a pair of parallel fold `lines adjacent two parallel edges of said blank, a line of weakening adjacent and substantially parallel to one fold line and another line of weakening spaced from said iirst-mentioned line of weakening and extending partially across and adjacent the other fold line, said rstmentioned line of weakening extending substantially entirely across said blank, and said secondmentioned'line of weakening extendingpartially across said blank, said blank having a linger tab at one corner of said blank adjacent the iirstmentioned line of weakening.

HOMER G. TASKER. 

